How do you deal with loneliness?

LOL I love it you real make my day Marilynd All people think about is going the church these days See you at the hotel and we will sit down and have a beer or two My shout Ok

dealing with loneliness isn't as easy as praying or exercising more...i m 73 and have managed depression and its repercussions since my early 30s. i've prayed and ive exercised myself to death and still experiencing depression, etc.regardless of treatment. so i keep on keepin on and i must admit if someone would have told me i'd end up alone for most of my life i'd have told them they were crazy. i look to mayo clinic for medical help often and now seeking a venue for opening sharing my feelings, challenges and good days without judgement. so it's late and i have to get off line and seek often eluding sleep. good night to you all.

I have joined a church and got involved in a number of activities which has helped me to make friends. God has blessed me as I have prayed for a friend for a long time. Getting out and socializing has had a profound impact on my mental health.

I'm so sorry that you are having such a time with depression. It's sad that exercising and prayer didn't work for you. Sometimes God takes a long time to answer prayers. I had severe migraine headaches for two years before God finally answered my prayers. But he did! I haven't had any kind of headache since then and that was 50 years ago! So, keep praying and having faith. God will be there for you. In the meantime, if you want to share your feelings and challenges etc. as you stated, I'd be glad to listen without judgement. I'll say a prayer for you.
I wish you the best.
PML

Hello, everyone! There's an article from Mayo Clinic that talks about the epidemic of loneliness and steps you can take to create more connections in your life.
I thought some of you might enjoy the read:
- Why friendships are so important for your health https://www.mayoclinic.org/connected-care/why-friendships-are-so-important-for-your-health/cpt-20548921

Loneliness is the most surreptitious result of a lack of a healthy human need: Connection with fellow Humans.
We lived as tribes for tens of thousands of years for reasons that made sense: Living as a group assured survival. It's no surprise that when people in an experiment were hypnotized to FEEL lonely, their physical symptoms such as blood pressure/heart rate went wild.

But social connection is particularly hard for men. As the sex education guru, Dr Ruth (Westheimer) has said in her this year's book, Joy of Connection, that men feel about approaching another person as strongly AS IF they have sexual inadequacy. Now think what Aristotle has said? "Life without a friend is not worth living." When such strong human need is starved, the damage is considerable, including depression and violent crime.
But I cannot be friend with just anybody -- EACH has to like somethinhg in the other to make it So when you think about the other to make it Enjoyable connection. In friendship You Give And Take Same Time. It's the most benevolent of human relations. Each approaches with their need but is reciprocated only when the other finds something equally valuable.

I in my early eighties spend a few hours each day to find out how/where to find such people -- even though I live in a big city. So I pore over in every direction -- from internet to community programs, even churches where I may have a contribution that they may like, and I enjoy offering, as a human and not in a Christian category. Think about it, a food bank they can use a service from an atheist if they're desperate!

But spend hours I must, if I don't want to die alone. In the afternoon I am going to meet half a dozen strangers via meetup.com in-person over coffee. I am going to make it a weekly affair as the response seem promising. I also dispense my 'wisdom' on diabetes forum as I have something for those to go in remission if their Type 2 is less than six years old. I have avoided I believe with healthy lifestyle -- not Over-exercising, nor Underexercising and few other sensible but Enjoyable ways to live. What's the point of living to be 100 but having had little Joy?

Good luck fellow humans...we are not to wander alone on this planet.

I suspect that there are many, many people in our society who are lonely and suffer from anxiety and depression. Too often doctors just prescribe pills of one kind or another, but there is no prescription for socializing, group therapy, etc, which would help with the conditions. Just take these pills, they may work and they may not. I am in the same situation with no support groups or friends at the age of 77, after participating in team sports actively multiple days a week until a few years ago when I could no longer play. Tried church, but the local churches here are a big production and there is little personal interaction. Tried volunteering, but too old for some positions and others are already filled. Had a cat, passed away recently after 20 years. My problem is that as I became depressed I have lost interest in nearly everything and seems difficult to impossible to exhibit any ambition to do anything. Any suggestions?

Get another cat to keep you company. I've had cats as pets my entire life(66 years) and know the pain of losing a companion after being together for so long. You won't ever forget your last kitty just because you adopt another one, but you can give another one a chance at a long happy life.

I need to create a support system for myself with others. How???? Help.

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I m so happy your faith has brought you the friend you ve wanted for a long time. I ll keep praying!